67 I have vacation (1/2)
Laila squeezed the Porsche's accelerator and shot across the highway. Let's get it over with. Actually, it was clear that the farm was out of the question. She did not want to disappoint Benedict.
He'd done too much for her over the last few years, never had he lost in his efforts, even though Tamara had returned home safe and sound for a long time. He was a loyal and loyal soul. Laila could not understand why she had not liked him when she met him.
Much had happened in the meantime. But Benedict has always been her rock solid. They regularly spent Christmas and the New Year together. Laila guessed he was secretly on her. Never did he even make the slightest attempt for an approach. He probably thought that an attractive woman like her was not interested in a below-average-looking freak.
Conversely, Laila thought that a highly intelligent and educated man like Benedict was not interested in an average-trained contract killer. Their relationship, if one could call it that, was at a dead end.
Laila rammed the gas pedal against the floor panel and enjoyed the speed on the straight stretch. Far and wide no car to see. Since Laila practised sexual abstinence in recent years, the rush of speed, the roar of the engine, was the only sensual experience she would ever enjoy.
Sometimes she drove the car to the limits of its capacity and thus to the limits of her driving skills. Then she had the feeling of flying and left everything behind. Her job, her nightmares, her bad conscience, the ram man and even Benedict. Sometimes, as she rushed with the Porsche, she was overcome by a yearning for death. How easy it would be to put the cart over the next cliff or in front of the next tree. Bang - and she would find peace.
Most of the time a picture of Jessica or Benedict appeared in her head and she took her foot off the gas pedal. This time she was interrupted by the ringing of her mobile phone. Laila slowed the Porsche to 60 km / h and looked at the display. Benedict.
”Well, what is my favourite programmer doing?”
”We have an order.”
”No interest.”
”Laila, that's different than usual.”
”It's always the same, Benedict.”
”Maybe, but this time the starting conditions are different.”
”I hear.”
”We have been commissioned by a group.”
”Aha, Black Sabbath?”
”Very funny.”
”Or no angels?”
”Laila, seriously, this time it's a group of parents, I've been accompanying them in a forum, all their children have disappeared without a trace in the last three years, no witnesses or clues, no bodies have ever been found.”
”Like Danielle.” Laila whispered.
”Exactly, I'll arrange a meeting.”
”No.”
”No?” Laila steered the Porsche on the shoulder and stopped. ”That would be a gross violation of our previous approach.”
”Laila, maybe we'll come across similarities, maybe it's a serial killer.”
Laila lit a cigarette. ”I do not want to contact my clients.”
”I know, but interviewing is unavoidable, I can not do it alone or online, we need to meet.” Laila hesitated. ”When?”
”At least two months will pass before I have researched all the cases, until we have found a joint appointment, maybe another four weeks. Give yourself a break, before our last case.” Laila saw in the rear view mirror how a car approached quickly. ”OK, last job, then I'll close.”
”Good, I'll get back to you.” Benedict hung up. Laila saw that the car stopped behind her on the shoulder. A man in uniform got out. ”Shit, bullshit.” Laila dropped the butt. The man stepped to Laila's side and tapped two fingers on the brim of his beige Stetson. Probably the village Sheriff. ”Mam?”
Laila bored her cell phone in the passenger seat. ”What's the officer?”
”About 20 kilometres ago you overtook me in a monkey tooth.” He drew a block. ”Then you apparently phoned illegally while driving, you are parked on the side of the road and ...” He looked at the still smouldering butt at his feet. ”... and violate the Pollution Law.” Laila gave him an innocent look.
”I'm in a very tense situation, maybe I was a bit too fast, maybe ...” He interrupted her. ”Your papers please.” Laila opened the glove box and handed him her driver's license and car papers. The officer took a step back. ”Please get off, Belinda Hammersfield.” Laila swung her long legs out of the Porsche and stood close to the officer.
She was glad that she wore a light summer dress, which brought her figure to advantage. Although the vanilla-coloured fabric did not go well with the cream-coloured leather of the Porsche, it made a lovely contrast to its tanned skin.